On the other hand, we have recently found that treatment of cancer cells with Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active component of marihuana, activates autophagy via ER stress and eIF2α phosphorylation [75] (an effect that is not mediated by PERK, PKR, or GCN2, Salazar, M. and Velasco, G. unpublished observations). The gene discussed is EIF2AK3; the disease is cancer.